Gaelic Warrior once again proved he belongs among the very best staying chasers of the season, adding the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup to his Cheltenham triumph with a dominant, effortless run. The eight‑year‑old, trained by the renowned Willie Mullins stable, travelled the course with a smooth rhythm, never looking troubled. As the 5/6 favourite, he settled comfortably behind his stablemate Fact To File, who was sent three lengths ahead with two fences remaining. At Paul Townend's urging, Gaelic Warrior accelerated, leapt the final two obstacles cleanly and surged ahead, quickly establishing a gap that grew to an astonishing 26 lengths by the finish line.
Fact To File, who had attempted to dictate the pace from the front, could not match the champion’s accelerating finish. Mullins was visibly thrilled after the race. "It was a massive performance," he said.
"My heart was in my mouth when Paul brought him alongside Fact To File around the fourth‑last and third‑last fences. I was wondering whether they would collide or what would happen.
Both jockeys were letting their mounts run freely. Over that distance Gaelic Warrior seemed to have the measure of Fact To File. On a shorter trip the result might have been different, but it was a spectacular race.
It takes two top‑class horses to make it memorable, and I’m grateful to JP McManus for allowing Fact To File to challenge him. It made the day unforgettable.
Both horses got the race they wanted. Fact To File posted a respectable time up front, and Paul settled his partner perfectly.
No excuses at all." Mullins also reflected on Gaelic Warrior's demanding campaign. "He started his season here in November, then went to Kempton for the King George, raced at the Dublin Racing Festival, tackled Cheltenham, and now he's back here. My philosophy is simple: if you have quality horses and generous sponsorship, you should seize the opportunities.
I aim to give them as many runs as possible when the conditions suit." This meeting marked the third encounter between Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File this season. Their first clash was in the John Durkan at Punchestown, after which Fact To File exacted revenge in the Irish Gold Cup. Mullins hinted that the two could meet again in next season's John Durkan, saying, "That would be the ideal plan for Gaelic Warrior's return." Owner Rich Ricci expressed his delight at the historic win. "We've never claimed this race before.
It was very sporting of JP to run his horse, even if the ground perhaps didn't suit him. He's a fantastic animal.
I'm thrilled to have won. I haven't been at Punchestown since Ruby Walsh retired in 2019. The past few years have been busy, with Covid and other setbacks, but the people here are wonderful and I couldn't be happier." In other Punchestown action, Le Frimeur continued his unbeaten streak, taking the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle by a comfortable margin and delivering trainer Harry Derham his first Grade One victory.
After an early lead by Espresso Milan, J.J. Slevin guided the 18/1 outsider Le Frimeur to the front in the home stretch. Favourite Zanoosh, sent off at 11/4, chased but faded, finishing six and a half lengths behind. Derham, beaming, said, "It's a cliché, but I truly dream of training Grade One winners.
It's unreal – having access to horses of this calibre makes everything easier. Simon (Munir) first approached me last year, promising this horse.
The colt had a minor setback in the autumn but improved steadily through the spring. We never imagined how good he could be, and even now I'm not entirely sure we grasp his full potential. J.J.
said I made several mistakes during the race, yet Le Frimeur still beat a quality field. It's absolutely surreal." Slevin praised the young trainer, noting, "Harry is ambitious and only moving upward. It was a bold move to run him in that race, and he deserved the credit. The facilities at Punchestown are top‑notch – great schooling grounds and gallops – so fair play to him." Josh Halford timed his ride perfectly on With Nolimit in the Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H.
Flat Race. The five‑year‑old, who had finished ninth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, held off a late surge from Festival hero The Mourne Rambler and crossed the line a length and three‑quarters ahead of Noel Meade's 11/8 favourite. Gordon Elliott, the trainer, commented, "He ran a good race at Cheltenham but may have been asked too much. I think I gave Harry (Swan) the wrong instructions.
Today we took our time with him, and Josh gave him a superb ride. I'm delighted for Josh – he works hard in the yard, is a great lad from a good family, and has been with me for a couple of years, delivering several winners. He's quiet, patient, and now has a Grade One to his name – a rare achievement." Elliott added that the victory matched his best season tally of Grade One wins, noting, "We have twelve Grade Ones this season; hopefully we can add another before the week ends." In the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase, Henry de Bromhead's Nouvotic, sent off at 7/1, surged clear after the third fence and held on under jockey Darragh O'Keeffe to claim victory. De Bromhead praised the win, especially for supporter Roger Brookhouse, saying, "It's wonderful to get a win for Roger, who loves Punchestown and comes every year.
This is our second success in this race after Lets Go Champ a few years ago. The easy lead Darragh secured was fantastic, and I'm delighted." When asked about future targets, de Bromhead mused, "He could contest the Galway Plate, though his rating might be a touch low. He was rated 130 there, so it may be a stretch, but he could aim for the Blazers or a similar race.
He loves this ground." Overall, Punchestown delivered a day of high‑class racing, with Gaelic Warrior's double cementing his status as the season's premier staying chaser, while emerging talents and seasoned veterans alike added depth and excitement to the meeting.